I  . 


CHINESE  STUDENTS’  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION 
IN  NORTH  AMERICA 


I 

CONSTITUTION 


Central  Office 

347  Madison  Avenue,  New  York 


Published,  August,  1922 


CHINESE  STUDENTS'  CHRISTIAN 
ASSOCIATION  IN  NORTH 
AMERICA 


(Revised  and  ratified,  June,  1922) 

ARTICLE  I.— .NAME 

The  name  of  this  Organization  shall  bo  THE  CHINESE 
STUDENTS’  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION  IN  NORTH 
AMERICA.  _ 

ARTICLE  II.— OBJECtS 
The  objects  will  be  : 

{«)  To  rmite  all  the  Christian  Chinese  Students  in 
North  America. 

(b)  To  promote  growth  of  Christian  eh.aracter. 

(c)  To  carry  on  aggressive  Christian  work,  especially 
by  and  among  the  Chinese  students. 

ARTICLE  III.— MEMBERSHIP 

{«.)  Any  Chinese  student,  in  sympathy  with  the 
objects  of  the  Association  and  makes  declaration  of  his 
purpose  to  work  for  their  realization  may  become  a 
member. 

(h)  Any  person,  not  a  student,  interested  in  the  work 
of  the  Association  and  desirous  of  cooperation  may  be¬ 
come  a  cooperative  member. 

(c)  The  right  to  hold  office  shall  be  restricted  to 
Chinese  student  members  who  are  members  of  Christian 
churches. 

(d)  There  shall  be  no  membership  fee. 

ARTICLE  IV.— ORGANIZATION 

(a)  The  Local  Unit. 

i.  The  members  in  each  locality  shall  form  the 
*  local  unit  and  shall  elect  its  executive  committee. 


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ii.  ITie  function  of  the  L.  U.  shall  be  to  promote 
the  objects  of  the  Association,  to  stimulate  the  devel¬ 
opment  of  layman  leadership  for  the  Church  in  China 
and  provide  opportunity  for  fellowship  an^l  stxidy  of 
religious  and  kindred  subjects. 

iii.  The  executive  committee  of  the  L.  U.  .shall  ex- 
officio  represent  the  Departmental  Committee  in  each 
locality  and  help  it  to  promote  the  interests  of  the 
Association. 

iv.  The  L.  U.  may  draw  up  its  own  budget  and 
assess  its  members  to  defray  local  expenses. 

(b)  The  Departments 

i.  This  Association  shall  be  divided  into  four 
departments,  to  be  known  as  :  dTe  Eastern  Depart¬ 
ment  ;  the  Middle  West  Department ;  the  Western 
Depai'tment ;  and  the  Women’s  Department. 

ii.  The  Eastern  Department  shall  embrace  such 
territories  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  as  are  ea.st 
of  the  meridian  passing  through  Buffalo ;  the  Middle 
\V^estern  Department  shall  embrace  those  between 
Buffalo  and  the  Rockies  ;  the  Western  Department 
shall  embrace  those  west  of  the  Rockies ;  and  the 
Women’s  Department  shall  include  all  women  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Association. 

iii.  The  Function  of  the  Department  shall  be  to 
encourage  the  establishment  of  local  units  and  assist 
them  in  their  work  ; 

To  a.ssist  the  Central  Executive  Board  in  maintaining 
and  supporting  the  work  of  the  Association. 

iv.  The  officers  of  the  Department  shall  be  a 
Chairman,  a  Vice  Chairman,  a  Secretary  and  a  Trea- 
siner  holding  office  for  one  year,  and  elected  by  the 
members  of  the  Department. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Department  shall  appoint  a 
Nomination  Committee  in  April  for  the  election  of  the 
Departmental  officers  for  the  following  year  and  the 
election  shall  be  carried  on  through  the  mail  in  May, 
with  the  help  of  the  Local  Units. 

(c)  The  Central  Executive  Board. 


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ii.  The  function  of  the  L.  U.  shall  he  to  promote 
the  objects  of  the  Association,  to  stimulate  the  devel¬ 
opment  of  layman  leadership  for  the  Church  in  China 
and  provide  opportunity  for  fellowship  and  study  of 
religious  and  kindred  subjects. 

iii.  The  executive  committee  of  the  L.  U.  shall  ex- 
officio  represent  the  Departmental  Committee  in  each 
locality  and  help  it  to  promote  the  interests  of  the 
Association. 

iv.  The  L.  U.  may  draw  uj)  its  own  budget  and 
assess  its  members  to  defray  local  expenses. 

(h)  The  Departments 

i.  This  As.sociation  shall  be  divided  into  four 
departments,  to  be  known  as  :  d’he  Eastern  Depart¬ 
ment  ;  the  Middle  West  Department ;  the  Western 
Depai  tment ;  and  the  Women’s  Department. 

ii.  The  Eastei'n  Department  shall  embrace  such 
territories  of  the  United  States  and  Canada  as  are  east 
of  the  meridian  passing  through  Buffalo ;  the  Middle 
W^estern  Department  shall  embrace  those  between 
Buffalo  and  the  Rockies  ;  the  Western  Department 
shall  embrace  tho.se  west  of  the  Rockies ;  and  the 
Women’s  Dejjartment  shall  inclu<.le  all  women  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Association. 

iii.  The  E imction  of  the  Department  shall  be  to 
encourage  the  establishment  of  local  units  and  assist 
them  in  their  work ; 

To  assist  the  Central  Executive  Board  in  maintaining 
and  supporting  the  work  of  the  Association. 

iv.  The  officers  of  the  Department  shall  be  a 
Ciiairman,  a  Vice  Chairman,  a  Secretary  and  a  Trea¬ 
surer  holding  office  for  one  year,  and  elected  by  the  ' 
members  of  the  Department. 

The  Cha,irman  of  the  Depai'tment  shall  appoint  a 
Nomination  Committee  in  April  for  the  election  of  the 
Departmental  officers  for  the  following  year  and  the 
election  shall  be  carried  on  through  the  mail  in  May, 
with  the  help  of  the  Local  Units. 

(c)  The  Central  Executive  Board. 


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iii.  To  keep  a  record  of  the  membership  of  the 
Association  and  of  ii^s  activities. 

iv.  To  have  custody  of  all  records  and  written 
reports. 

V.  To  supervise  publications  of  tlie  Association. 

vi.  To  serve  as  secretary  of  tlie  Central  Board. 

ic)  The  Field  secretaries  shall  assist  the  General 
Secretary  m  discharging  his  duties. 

ARTICLE  VI.— PUBLICATIONS 

(a)  The  Associ.ation  shall  publish  quarterly  a  sheet 
known  as  Fellowship  Notes,  in  October,  December 
March,  and  May,  and  an  annual  number  in  January. 

They  shall  be  edited  by  the  General  Secretary. 

ARTICLE  VU.— COMMITTEES,  CENTRAL 
AND  DEPARTMENTAL 

(«)  Central  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means  : 

i.  The  Committee  shall  be  composed  of  the  Trea¬ 
surers  of  the  Departments  with  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Association  as  chairman,  and  the  President  and  the 
General  Secretary  as  ex-officio  members. 

ii.  Its  function  is  to  raise  funds. 

(b)  Central  Advisory  Committee. 

i.  The  Committee  shall  be  compo.sed  of  15  friends 
of  the  Association  as  elected  by  the  Central  Board. 

ii.  Its  function  shall  be  to  give  advice  and  moral 
encouragement  In  all  the  activities  of  the  Association. 

(c)  Departmental  Committees  may  be  appointed  by 
the  Department  Chairman. 

ARTICLE  VIII.— FINANCE 

(u)  Support :  The  Association  shall  be  supported 
by  volimtary  contributions  from  members  and  friends. 

(5)  Financial  Drive  ;  An  annual  financial  drive  .shall 
be  held  in  January  and  February  and  directed  by  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Association. 


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(c)  Budget :  An  annual  budget  shall  be  drawn  up 
by  the  Treasurer,  with  the  cooperation  of  the  General 
Secretary  and  submitted  for  approval  to  the  Central 
Board  at  the  beginning  of  the  administrative  year  and 
not  later  than  July. 

id)  Fiimncial  Control:  All  funds  raised  in  the  name 
of  the  C.  S.  C.  A.,  whether  by  departments,  local  units 
or  individuals  shall  be  turned  into  tb.e  Central  Treasury. 
All  disbursernents  of  the  Association  funds  shall  be 
made  by  the  Treasurer  with  the  approval  of  the 
President. 


ARTICLE  IX.— AMENDMENTS 

Amendments  to  this  Constitution  shall  require  for 
tlieir  adoption  a  statement,  written  and  signed  by  five 
members  of  the  Association  and  duly  presented  to  the 
Central  Board  and  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  members. 

'I’he  voting  shall  be  done  through  mail. 


b 


